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| Google’s UAS developed by Project Wing. Photo: Google |
[Avionics Today 08-29-14] Google[x], Google’s facility dedicated to advancing technology, finally announced Project Wing, a project set on developing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) that can quickly transport and deliver goods across a city or into rural areas.
The project, which Google[x] has been developing in secret for about two years, released footage of the flying prototype successfully delivering small goods to local farmers in Queensland, Australia — including candy bars, dog treats, a first aid kit and water.
The self-flying vehicle takes off vertically and then rotates to a flying position, delivering goods by lowering the package on the end of a tether. A bundle of electronics at the end of the tether senses when the package has hit the ground, at which point it detaches and is pulled back up into the body of the vehicle.
The project is far from launch, as Google is just beginning to develop the technology, but those involved see huge potential for UAS to more efficiently and safely transport goods.
“The next phase is to take the momentum and the enthusiasm that we’ve built internally and now drive it towards enabling the dream of delivering stuff more quickly — with proper induced safety,” said Dave Vos, lead on Project Wing, in a video released by Google[x].